Ikbel Achour

Ikbel Achour is passionate about translating cutting-edge science into patient care. She is the global head of translational medicine at AstraZeneca, and previously a senior research scientist at IO Bispecifics Franchise in genomics and molecular medicine, with a focus on innovation in precision medicine. She leads and manages the R&D team in translational bioinformatics in Yves Lussier’s group at the University of Illinois at Chicago. As an active member of Women in BIO, Achour engages both the academic and private sector communities in Illinois, empowering and creating a dynamic professional environment to enable career development and promote entrepreneurship and innovation. Additionally, she is deploying initiatives to promote economic development in North Africa, tackling global health care challenges and social causes. Achour earned her PhD in immunology (immunogenetics) from the Institut Pasteur-University Paris VII and BE in biotechnology and bioindustry from the National Institute of Applied Science and Technology in Tunisia.